Sovereignty in conflict

When my son began to look down on me I had the distinct feeling of having lost sovereignty. Unfortunately, given that Roman law was no longer in force I couldn't appeal to the old concept of paternal authority (patria potestà). Instead I understood that from that moment on, I would have to rely solely on my moral stature to persuade him to go out and buy me a newspaper. Or I would have to succumb to the blackmail of purchasing a newspaper of his liking together with my chosen ones. But it wasn't long before my son began to comment on the day's news – and not just on sport. In this way I acquired a home-based newspaper, an excellent press review and a sporting daily to leaf through. All in one go. There can be benefits to losing sovereignty. It depends on how and towards whom it is lost. Much national sovereignty has been shrunk by the crisis. Even before discovering their nakedness, many emperors have realised how terribly small they are. National governments have been forced...